Showing posts with label Award. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Award. Show all posts

August 20, 2013

Liebster Award

Christine from Simply Me Just Be nominated me for the Liebster Award.


the Liebster Award gives recognition to blogs with fewer than 200 followers.  the purpose of the award is to encourage the writer to continue their work. in German, Liebster means sweetheart, beloved person, darling, liked very much, affectionate, loving favorite, preferred above others, liked or loved above others. i accept this award, with great honor. thank you, Christine!

okay, off we go then...eleven random facts about me

one. i'm mildly paranoid of bees, wasps, bumblebees, hornets, and basically anything from the bee family. i was once stung very badly by millions of bees (give or take a few hundred). i love honey though.
two. i have two brothers. one older brother. one younger brother. my older brother is two years older than me while my younger brother is fourteen years younger than me.
three. i dislike crumbs - of any sort - in my bed. i also like my sheets and blanket to be in a specific place on my bed. not pulled up too high or too low. i have my own system.
four. i can play four musical instruments: the piano. the violin. the flute. the recorder. i sing too.
five. i have five younger sisters ranging from age seventeen to thirty one.
six. i have moved six times since two thousand and four.
seven. i fell off my bike on my seventh birthday and ended up in the hospital with a concussion. i learned how to play the piano when i was seven. i won first place in a singing competition when i was seven. i got straight a's on my report card when i was seven.
eight. my son is eight years old. he is my greatest gift!
nine. i missed my first month of high school in grade nine because i was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.
ten. if i could own any pet i wanted, i would choose to own a mandrill. they're colors are so vibrant and they become even more vibrant when the mandrill is excited. think of rafiki from the lion king.
eleven. i used to carry pepper spray/mace in my purse. one time, a friend was looking through my purse and accidentally triggered the switch - gag! i had to use it once on someone on the streets on vancouver..scary!

here's what Christine wanted to know:

1. what is your favorite quote? I have so many favorite quotes. One that resonates with me on such a deep level is "If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present." - Lao Tzu
2. what inspires you? music inspires me, people inspire me, i inspire myself, my brothers and sisters inspire me. i find inspiration from many things rather than one thing in particular.
3. what single moment had the greatest impact and has changed your life? the moment i held my son in my arms for the very first time. "The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new."
4. what is the greatest lesson you have learned recently? it's okay to slow down.
5. if you could have a day with anyone, who would that person be? my late grandfather
6. when was the last time you cried? last night. august 19, 2013. i cried watching felicity. i like crying. it always feels good to cry.
7. what is the first thing you would purchase if money was not object? a house."my little taste tester" and i share a one bedroom apartment. its cozy but a house would be even cozier.
8. do you have a bucket list and if so, what is number 1 on that list? no bucket list. number one: make a bucket list.
9. what song best describes you? the middle. jimmy eat world. because my sister said so.
10. savory or sweet? all things sweet.
11. what is your favorite book? i don't have a favorite book. if i had to choose one book to read for the rest of my life, i would choose to read the bible.

not sure if those answers have me pegged as a weirdo or not...so please leave me one random fact about you so i can feel a little bit better...ha ha!

December 18, 2012

the reality of me

I've been blogging for about 7 months now. At first, I felt good if I could write 4 or 5 posts a month...and I always felt really good if I could write more than that!

In my opinion though, blogging is much more than writing as many posts as you possibly can, it's more about the experience - and the people I've "met" through it - this has blessed me so MUCH.

Once or twice, I've thought of giving up this space - but I don't think that's what I'm supposed to do just yet.  So I will continue to "work at it" during the times when I just want to hibernate and not talk to anyone...

This blog is still my little lifeline to my family of online sisters...and I'm so thankful there are a few of you out there who view me in the same way.


With that being said, and to my surprise, a new reader and follower, the ever-so-marvelous Carolyn Hughes, The Hurt Healer, has showered me with a token of affection.

It is with great pleasure that I accept The Reality Blog Award: Real. Energizing. Amazing. Lovely. Inspiring. Touching. Yippee!


Here are the guidelines in accepting the award:
  1. Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you.
  2. Acknowledge that blogger on your blog and link back to them.
  3. Answer the 5 questions presented.
  4. Nominate up to 20 blogs for the award and notify them on their blogs.
  5. Copy and paste the award on your blog somewhere.
 Here's the list of 5 questions:
  1. If you could change one thing what would you change? If I could change one thing about everyone in this world, including myself, it would be to Be Yourself. Look into your heart for who is there. Feel it in your bones who you are. Let your mind remind you of what thoughts and dreams still rest within your very being. One of my favorite sayings is "You are the only person you will spend your whole life with".  You are the only person who knows you and what you need now.
  2. If you could repeat an age, what would it be? Funny, my little "Taste Tester" asks me this question all the time.  I always answer it the same way: "I am happy with my age. I have lived each age before this and I will live each age after this".  I have no regrets and I would not want to repeat or change anything
  3. What one thing really scares you? No fears. I used to have a great fear of fire. My family has been through a few fires over the years. I used to have dreams about being in fires. Oddly, I was never scared and I never got burned.  
  4. What is one dream you have not completed, and do you think you’ll be able to complete it?  As a mother, I watch my dream come true everyday. I dream and wish for a happy, healthy, loving, caring child with a warm and gentle soul - and so far, in my eyes, that's what he is..fully, completely. My dream is my reality.
  5. If you could be someone else for one day, who would it be? I am content being myself. I would not trade places with anyone, even for a single day. I think I would miss myself too much.
I would like to nominate the following bloggers for the Reality Blog Award:

Jessie Loves To Run
My Recovery Diary
Cauldrons and Cupcakes
Strength in Freedom
The Misadventures of a Darwinian Fail

You are all winners! Thank you all for providing me with inspiration every day!


October 22, 2012

Marvelous in My Monday #7 (My 1st Award + A Smoothie Recipe)

When I started writing this little blog, I had no idea that there was such a thing as a Blog Award. I always thought a BLOG AWARD is when someone leaves me a sweet comment, likes my post or follows my blog.

Imagine my surprise and delight when this sweet little lady nominated me for the Super Sweet Award. Thank you, sweet Jessie, for your kind nomination for the Super Sweet Blogging Award and for always making me smile with your sweet, loving comments. I am truly honored and humbled.


I knew nothing about blog awards and I thought that because I was nominated I would have to compete with all the other nominees and that there would be one winner.
Fortunately, this community is much less complicated than that.

Rules for the Super Sweet Blogging Award:
  1. Give credit to the person who nominated you.
  2. Nominate a Baker's Dozen (13) other blogs.
  3. Post the award on your blog.
  4. Answer the following 5 "Super Sweet" questions:
Cookies or Cake? C is for Cookie! That's good enough for me! 

Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla.

Did you know that vanilla comes from the stem of an orchid? Me either!

Try using WHOLE vanilla bean in a chocolate smoothie + ice = Total  Annihilation!

What is your Favorite Sweet Treat? "Taste Tester" kisses are the ultimate sweet treat!

Almond Butter with Maple Syrup is pretty sweet too though. A perfect muffin topper, apple or banana boat dipper, celery spread, or straight off a spoon or finger.

When do you Crave sweet things the most? Late at night. Mid-afternoon can be pretty bad too.

If you had a Sweet Nickname, what would it be? Sweet Maria (like a Sweet Marie chocolate bar, only a whole lot sweeter!)

A boy in highschool used to call me "Sweet Maria".  It used to annoy the heck out of me. When his hot guy friends started calling me "Sweet Maria" too, I eventully started to like my nickname. I never did like the boy though (in a "like" like sort of way). Sorry Sandi.

Nominations for this award:

The Adventures of MJ and Hungryman Min is a super sweet writer, wife, baker and photographer who is currently in school working on her Master's in Nutrition.

The Raw Serenity Australian wellness warrior and green smoothie addict Lisa shares fantastic plant-based vegan recipes and talks about her incredible wellness journey, which has led her to take control of her health and overall well-being.

Char Eats Greens Char is a passionate nutritionist, veggie lover, marathon runner, wife, soon-to-be momma, and fellow Canadian gal.

Miranda's Munchie's Miranda is another Canadian lady who blogs about her journey towards a healthy lifestyle and a positive mentality.

fridge scrapings Lou is a vegan mama who loves to cook healthy eats and tasty treats for the whole family.

Every Day is a New Adventure Alyx is a fun-loving food-lover, wife, daughter, sister, lover, friend, bookworm, for-fun photographer and pillow hog. Join her adventure and link-up to her weekly Sunday Confessions, a time for honesty and openness. Confess to anything and everything you choose.

Colour Me Happy Allie takes snapshots, tells stories, and makes life a little more inspirational.

Wayfaring Chocolate Hannah writes about chocolate, desserts, travel, and, most importantly. laughter.

The Bliss Project Manon is a teacher, runner, dancer, yogini, dessert-lover, and fellow participant in the Be The Change: 30 Day Yoga Challenge.

A Spoonful of Sunshine Theresa is a fun food and fitness lover who is very passionate about outdoor activities, food, and a healthy lifestyle.

susonia.com Susan, a Canadian mom, is on a quest to a healthy life filled with funky foods, fitness, fun and happiness

fitness, food and photography A full-time working mom who married her high school sweetheart. I love her food philosophy: "when you eat crap, you feel like crap".

In Her Chucks Heather is a wife, mommy, kitchen queen and music teacher who shares her joy of life through her posts.

I will leave a note with each of my nominees stating that if they don’t want their award to contact me. If I receive any declining bloggers, I will post another nominee(s).

Congratulations to all the winners!

And now...

A Marvelous Smoothie Recipe
*I realize I mis-spelled the word Blueberries in the photo and I didn't correct it!. Judge me if you want to but I'll still love you! <3

HARCORE SUPERHERO FUEL!

1 Banana, fresh or frozen (I prefer frozen)
2 (or more) cups frozen berries of choice
2 handfuls Baby Spinach
Handful of pumpkin & sunflower seeds
1 TBSP almond or cashew butter
1 TBSP chia seeds
1-2 TBSP hemp seeds
dash of vanilla
Fresh apple juice, enough to liquify*
*Instead of using apple juice, 
toss in a chopped apple and use water as your liquid

*Add-ins (depends on your preference):
1 TBSP Super Green Food Powder
1 TBSP flaxseed oil or hemp seed oil
1 TBSP maca powder
1/2 serving vanilla protein powder

Place all ingredients in a high-speed blender
and whip into creamy perfection.

And that, my lovelies, is why I'm feeling Marvelous in My Monday!

Thank you miss Katie for hosting this Monday morning block party!
You truly help put a nice, shiny sparkle in my Monday!